John Bolton Says Donald Trump’s Next Meeting With Kim Jong Un Will Take Place Early Next Year

Bolton says North Korea hasn't lived up to its commitments

National security adviser John Bolton on Tuesday said the second meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would likely happen in either January or February next year in the hope of making further progress.

Bolton added that President Trump wants a second summit with Kim Jong Un as the North Korean leader hasn’t lived up to commitments he made during the Singapore summit in June. The two leaders agreed to a framework for complete denuclearization of North Korea and work toward peace and prosperity on the peninsula.

“They have not lived up to the commitments so far,” Bolton said at The Wall Street Journal’s annual CEO Council conference, reported CNN. “That’s why I think the President thinks that another summit is likely to be productive.”

Bolton lauded President Trump should get a Nobel Peace price if he is successful in making the North Koreans follow their denuclearization commitment. He said it was Trump who initiated the denuclearization talks and now it’s all up to the North Korean leader to follow his words.

“We’re going to pursue this,” Bolton said. “If the North Koreans follow through on their commitments they made in Singapore, President Trump will deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. He opened the door for them. Now they have to walk through it. That’s what we hope to make progress on at the next meeting.”

He added that the Trump administration would not consider lifting hefty economic sanctions against the regime until they live up to the commitments made so far.

The statement comes after Trump told reporters on Saturday that he shares a good relationship with Kim. He said the two sides are currently in search of a potential site for the summit. Trump said that he is even planning to invite the North Korean leader to the United States.